We're going to learn a lot about the Class AA contenders over the next three or four weeks.
The schedule has been light in terms of competition for a couple of teams we might see in the semifinals and finals in November, but that's beginning to change. Arlington got on the radar with a convincing win over Mamaroneck and we're going to find out more about Scarsdale this week when they visit the Tigers. We're going to need to see North Rockland, New Rochelle and Yonkers under pressure before the playoff picture clears up and that's going to happen soon enough.
Last week: 25-5
Season: 68-21
Heat index
Iona Prep 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Somers 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Westlake 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Clarkstown South 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Rye 🔥🔥🔥
Bronxville 🔥🔥🔥
Rye Country Day 🔥🔥
Pearl River 🔥🔥
Scarsdale 🔥🔥
North
Rockland 🔥🔥
Clarkstown North 🔥
Arlington 🔥
New Rochelle 🔥
Marquee games
Friday, Sept. 25
Monsignor Farrell (3-0) at Iona Prep (3-0), 6 p.m.
The lone Gaels loss of last year's championship season came against the Lions and was quickly avenged in the CHSFL AAA title game. Farrell quarterback Bryce Moye has already thrown for nearly 750 yards and eight touchdowns and Jayden Burch has collected 500 yards and four touchdowns. This would not be a good week for Iona Prep to be complacent. The Gaels have playmakers, too, and this is an opportunity for an experienced defense to show off a little.
The pick: Iona Prep 35, Monsignor Farrell 21
Scarsdale (2-0) at Mamaroneck (1-2), 6 p.m.
There are important questions in play here. Do the Raiders have the pieces in place to make a run at the Section 1 Class AA championship? A statement win cements Scarsdale among the contenders. Was last week's Mamaroneck loss a sign of trouble? Getting the offense back in stride has to be a priority this week.
The pick: Scarsdale 21, Mamaroneck 20
Pearl River (3-0) at Tappan Zee (1-2), 6:30 p.m.
It's been a minute since both programs have competed in Section 1, but it remains a heated rivalry. The Pirates are no doubt looking to post a third shutout. If the Dutchmen are going to stay close, stopping Tommy Mahoney is the priority. He's delivering 10.7 yards per carry and has five touchdowns.
The pick: Pearl River 35, Tappan Zee 6
Tuckahoe (2-1) at Kings Park (2-0), 7 p.m.
Can anyone remember the last time Long Island and Section 1 met on the football field? Both teams were left with open dates after Croton and Port Jefferson folded due to a lack of participants. The Tigers (207 students) had success against larger schools last season. The Kingsmen (600) haven't enjoyed a winning season since 2022.
The pick: Tuckahoe 27, Kings Park 20
Valhalla (3-0) vs. Pleasantville (2-1) at Parkway Field, 7 p.m.
Luke Foisset will no doubt be the best player on the field, but is Valhalla the deepest team? Pleasantville needs another big game from linebackers Harry Finkelberg and Chris Jennings to get the Vikings off the field.
The pick: Pleasantville 27, Valhalla 24
Saturday, Sept. 26
Yonkers (2-1) at New Rochelle (2-0), 1:30 p.m.
Brendan Mulvihill is a proven dual-threat quarterback and gives the Guardians a chance to upend a program that has built needed momentum over the first three weeks. The Huguenots have their own headliners capable of igniting the home crowd in Luke Zaccagnino and Malachi McFarlane.
Best of the rest
Thursday, Sept. 24
Rye vs. Mount Vernon, 6 p.m. at Memorial Field
Suffern at Arlington, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25
Hackley at Rye Country Day, 4:15 p.m.
Harrison at Clarkstown North, 6 p.m.
John Jay-East Fishkill at North Rockland, 6 p.m.
Ossining at Port Chester, 6:30 p.m
White Plains vs. East Ramapo at Spring Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Carmel at Yorktown, 6:30 p.m.
Bronxville vs. Dobbs Ferry at Gould Park, 6:30 p.m.
Pelham at Hen Hud, 6:30 p.m.
Panas at Ardsley, 6:30 p.m.
Ketcham at Fox Lane, 6:30 p.m.
Peekskill at Somers, 6:30 p.m.
Kennedy Catholic vs. Xaverian at Aviator Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
Lakeland at Nyack, 7 p.m.
Woodlands at Albertus Magnus, 7 p.m.
Brewster at Mahopac, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Putnam Valley vs. Briarcliff/Hamilton at Briarcliff, noon
St. Joseph's by the Sea at Stepinac, 1:30 p.m.
Clarkstown South at Eastchester 1:30 p.m.
Byram Hills at Nanuet, 1:30 p.m.
Irvington at Rye Neck, 3 p.m.
Hastings at Sleepy Hollow, 6:30 p.m.
Greeley at John Jay-Cross River, 7 p.m.
Edgemont/Blind Brook at Westlake, 7 p.m.
Mike Dougherty covers high school football for The Journal News and lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: High school football | Dougherty's marquee game breakdowns, picks
